Analysis of an Temperature Inversion Event in the Lower Mesosphere

Other

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

0342 Middle Atmosphere: Energy Deposition, 3332 Mesospheric Dynamics, 3367 Theoretical Modeling, 3379 Turbulence, 3384 Waves And Tides

Scientific paper

Rayleigh lidar measurements of stratospheric and lower mesospheric temperature obtained at the Urbana Atmospheric Observatory (40.1 N, 88.1 W) on November 17 1997 revealed large temperature inversions between 55-65 km as well as clear and persisting wave signatures between 30-65 km before and during the inversion. The wave has a vertical wavelength of about 12 km and an apparent period of about 12 hours. However, the intrinsic characteristics of the wave are uncertain due to the lack of information of the background wind and the relative direction of the wave propagation with respect to the wind. Two different cases, corresponding to small and large background wind corrections, are studied numerically to represent two scenarios in explanation of the observed temperature inversion. When the background wind correction is small, the wave is likely to be an inertio-gravity wave. It is shown that the breaking of such a wave does not produce as large a heating rate as that observed. However, numerical modeling shows that the inertio-gravity wave can modulate the stability of an internal gravity wave and then the breaking of the internal gravity wave produces a heating rate similar to the rate observed. When the background wind correction is large, on the other hand, the wave can be an internal gravity wave with a large intrinsic phase speed. The breaking of the internal wave can then generate a large heating rate and a temperature inversion that are similar to the observations. The observational implications of the two scenarios are discussed. Possible wave sources are also analyzed in terms of the Lagrangian Rossby number as related to the developing frontal system in the tropopause region around that time.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Analysis of an Temperature Inversion Event in the Lower Mesosphere does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Analysis of an Temperature Inversion Event in the Lower Mesosphere, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Analysis of an Temperature Inversion Event in the Lower Mesosphere will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1379144

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.